School Board At It Again

July 3, 1986

I COULD not believe my eyes when I read ''Board okays fund to settle Molnar flap'' in the Lake Sentinel on June 26, referring to whether Gene Molnar should be retained as principal of Eustis High School.

Just when I thought there might be some hope for the Lake County School Board members, they've done it again.

Superintendent Freddie Garner's asking the school board for taxpayer funding to hire an attorney to represent him (in case the Molnar situation goes to court), and the board's vote, unanimous no less, to set aside funds for this purpose is -- well, I am left speechless.

The school board, strapped for adequate funding of normal educational costs, by this action has elected to finance both sides of an anticipated legal battle should a suit take place. What is the reasoning behind such a decision? Where are the priorities of the school board (our elected officials) in this dire time when other urgent matters are demanding attention?

I protest strongly -- first and foremost on behalf of students in Lake County schools, and second on behalf of taxpayers who will be footing the costs of this decision.

Also, according to the cited article, at a budget meeting (not a regular meeting), Garner reassigned Molnar to a planned (not existing) position in such a fashion that there was no discussion of the matter. Some of the board members were not even aware of the reassignment until after the meeting. This action (or should I say lack of action?) leaves Eustis High School without a principal or assistant principal.

Voters, let's make our voices heard and clean up the school board in the November elections. Our children already have suffered far too much from the destructive and costly actions of the present superintendent and board.

In addition to voting incumbents out of office, we should also be calling for revision of a system wherein it appears that the school board is no more than a rubber stamp for whatever inane ideas the superintendent chooses to promulgate. The decisions made by the board during this past year demonstrate the need for drastic change.